Hydraulically actuated scoop



June 28, 1955 B. F. OWEN 2,711,599

HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED SCOOP Filed July 2, v 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BENJAMIN F U WEN June 28, 1955 Filed July 2, 1951 B. F. OWEN HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED SCOOP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. BENJAM/N F? UwE/v HYDRAULICALLY ACTUAT-ED SCOOP Benjamin F. Owen, East Omaha, Nebr.

Application July 2, 1951, Serial No. 234,751

6 Claims. (Cl. 37-129) This invention relates to earth moving and leveling machinery generally referred to as road or heavy equipment, and particularly machines used for scraping up, transporting, dumping and spreading earth and other materials, such as sand and gravel, and in particular a scoop where in the entire body portion is lowered in the scraping opiii eration, or when the device is digging into the earth, so that the distance the earth is elevated in loading is reduced to a minimum.

The purpose of this invention is to improve the operating instrumentalities of scoops for scraping up, transused for actuating road scraping machinery considerable time is required to complete the different operations and when the load required of these pumps is reduced to a minimum much time is saved.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates an improved system of levers for operating a scraping, transporting and dumping scoop wherein the power required to operate the scoop is reduced.

Earth leveling and road building equipment is also required, at times, to handle comparatively heavy materials, such as gravel and rock, and with the actuating levers designed to operate with the highest efiiciency, so that the load on the pumps is reduced, greater amounts of these heavy materials can be handled with the same pumps.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a scoop of an improved design and with an improved arrangement of the operating levers whereby loads of greater volume and also of greater weight can be handled with the conventional oil pumps of tractors to which the scoops are connected;

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved scoop and improved mechanism for operating in which the scoop is readily attached to a tractor and the mechanism adapted to be operated by the pump of the tractor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination scraper and scoop which is provided with a swinging front wall and a pivotally mounted bottom in which the parts are simultaneously actuated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders mounted on the rear of the body of the scoop.

A further object of the invention is to provide operating instrumentalities for a scoop wherein the whole body of the scoop is lowered, with the scraping blade, into a digging position so that the height the material is raised in loading is comparatively slight.

A still further object of the invention is to provide operating mechanisms for a scoop wherein the body of the scoop is lowered for digging and scraping, in which the parts are adapted to be operated by a single operator positioned on a tractor to which the scoop is attached.

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And a still further object of the invention is to provide a scoop having an arrangement of operating levers and mechanisms whereby the entire body of the scoop is lowered by hydraulic means for digging and scraping in loading the scoop, in which the scoop is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a body having a rear end with forwardly extended side walls, a bottom having a scraper on the leading edge pivotally mounted between the lower edges of the side walls, a swinging front wall pivotally mounted on the side walls and shaped to coact with armate leading edges of said side walls, a transversely disposed shaft carried by the rear wall and spaced from the lower edge thereof, actuating cams having L-shaped slots therein fixedly mounted on the shaft and extended on the sides of the side walls, a tongue providing a hitch extended forwardly from said side walls, a plurality of levers, links and arms actuated by the shaft and actuating cams and positioned on the sides of the body, wheels adjustably mounted at the sides of the body, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders mounted on the said rear wall of the body and connected to the shaft for operating the parts.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of the hydraulically actuated scoop showing the hydraulic cylinders in the positions of holding the scoop in a partly elevated position for transportation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the scoop also showing the parts with the scoop in a closed load carrying position.

Figure 3 is a view showing a side elevation of the scoop with the wheel on the near side removed and also showing the scoop in an elevated load carrying position. Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 3 with the scoop lowered to the earth scraping or loading position. Figure 5 is a detail showing a section through a lower corner of the forward end of the scoop with the side wall of the scoop in section and the other parts in elevation.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view also with one wheel removed and showing the scoop in an elevated position in which the bottom is turned downwardly for dumping.

Figure 7 is a detail illustrating one of the actuating cams which control the operation of the levers, on an enlarged scale, and in which the cam is shown in the position wherein the scoop is partly elevated for transportation in full lines, and with the scoop elevated for dumping and lowered for digging in dotted lines.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved hy-' draulically actuated scoop of this invention includes a shaft 10 which is mounted on a rear wall 12 of a scoop having side walls 14 and 16, an arcuate front wall 18 that is pivotally mounted on the side walls, actuating cams 20 and 22 fixedly mounted on the shaft, wheels 24 and 26 journaled on the ends of arms 28 and 30, also fixedly mounted on the shaft, hydraulic cylinders 32 and 34 also mounted on the rear wall of the scoop, a tongue or hitch formed with bars 36 and 38 extended forwardly from the side walls of the scoop, and suitable levers.

links and arms for operatively connecting the parts.

The digging element or scraping blade of the scoop is formed by a beveled edge 40, providing a blade, on the forward edge of a plate 42 forming the bottom of the scoop, and the bottom is provided with side flanges 44 and 46 from which stub shafts 48 and 50 extend which pivotally mount the bottom in theside walls 14 and 16 of the scoop. The stub shafts are journaled in openings in the side walls and arms 52 and 54 which are fixedly mounted on the outer ends of the stud shafts are pivotally connected to double operating links 56 and 58 at the 3 sides of the scoop. The links 56 and 58, and also other parts of the mechanism being similar on both sides of the scoop, the same reference characters are used for corresponding parts on both sides.

The opposite ends of the links 56 and 58 are connected to pins 60 which are positioned to travel in the L-shaped slots of the actuating cams 20 and 22, and the pins are controlled by vertically disposed guide links 62 and 64, the upper ends of which are pivotally mounted in C-shaped brackets 66 by pins 68.

The L-shaped slots of the actuating cams 20 and 22 are formed with relatively vertical sections 70 and substantially horizontal sections 72, and the angle between the sections is slightly less than a right angle.

The actuating cams are also provided with extensions 74 in which bars 76 with slots 78 in the extended ends are pivotally mounted by pins 80. The slots 78 of the bars are positioned over pins 82 on tangs 84 on the upper surfaces of arms 86 which extend from the upper edge of the front wall 18, and the extended ends of the arms 86 are pivotally mounted on the side walls 14 and 16 by pins 88. The pins 88 are positioned on the center of the radius with which the forward edges of the side walls are described and with the front wall 18 formed on the same radius flanges 90 on the edges of the front wall, and which overlap the edges of the side walls, provide complete closing means between the front and side walls.

The front wall, which forms a door, is resiliently held in and urged toward the closed position by springs 92 which are connected, at one end, to the pins 82 in the tangs 84 on the arms of the front wall through shackles 94, and to tabs 96, at the opposite end, which extend from the ends of the bars 36 and 38 of the tongue or hitch, and provide anchoring means for holding the springs to the side walls of the scoop.

The shaft 10 extends through bearing blocks 98, the latter being welded to the rear stationary wall 12 of the scoop.

The hydraulic cylinders, which are rigidly mounted with brackets on an inclined section 102 of the rear wall 12 of the scoop are operatively connected to the shaft 10 through yokes formed with bars 104 and 106 at the sides of the cylinder 32, and 108 and 110 at the sides of the cylinder 34, and the lower ends of the bars 104 and 106 are connected to power arms 112 and 114 by a pin 116, with the lower ends of the bars 108 and 110 connected to arms 118 and 120 by a similar pin 122. The upper ends of the bars 104 and 106 are connected to a piston rod 124 of the cylinder 32 with a rod 126, and the upper ends of the bars 108 and 110 are connected to a piston rod 128 of the cylinder 34 with a rod 130.

The cylinders are supplied with oil or other fluid under pressure through tubes 132 and 134, and the tubes are connected to a supply tube 136 that extends to a pump 5 or the like on a tractor to which the scoop is connected.

The wheels 24 and 26, which are preferably of the type provided with pneumatic tires, are journaled on stub shafts 138 and 140 on the ends of the arms 28 and 30, and as pressure is applied to the cylinders the yokes draw the arms on one side of the shaft 10 upwardly, thereby forcing the arms 28 and 30, on the ends of which the Wheels are carried, downwardly whereby the scoop is elevated.

The bars 36 and 38, forming the tongue or hitch, are mounted on the side plates or walls 14 and 16 with spacing elements 142 and 144, and the forward ends 146 and 148 are provided with an opening 150 for a bolt or clevis for attaching the scoop to a tractor or the like. A cross bar 152 extended between the bars 36 and 38 retains the bars in spaced relation.

Operation With the parts formed and assembled in this manner rotation of the shaft 10, which is journaled in bearings 98 on the lower part of the rear wall 12, and to which the actuating cams 20 and 22 and the arms 28 and 30 are welded or otherwise fixedly mounted, causes the scoop to be elevated and lowered, the front wall or door to open and close, and the bottom to rotate about its pivotal mounting to open for spreading and dumping and to close for loading and transporting materials.

The scoop is towed by a tractor or the like, to which it is connected, with the parts as shown in Figure 3, and as it arrives at a desired location the operator on the tractor, by actuating the conventional lever, releases the fluid pressure in the cylinders 32 and 34, and the scoop drops downwardly to the position shown in Figure 4. In this movement the extensions 74 move rearwardly drawing the tangs 84, and raising the front wall. With the rotative movement of the actuating cams 20 and 22 the sections 70 of the L-shaped slots move upwardly over the pins 60 and the bottom is retained in the closed position.

Upon forward movement of the scoop the blade 40 scoops up material loading the scoop and with the scoop loaded with material the operator, still remaining on the tractor, applies fluid under pressure to the cylinders 32 and 34 whereby the piston rods through the yokes rotate the shaft 10, driving the arms 28 and 30 with the wheels thereon, downwardly, and rotating the actuating cams back to the full line position shown in Figure 7, whereby the front wall or door is released, so that it is closed by the springs 92.

The scoop, with the load of material such as earth, sand, gravel, or the like, therein, is therefore, returned to the position shown in Figure 3, so that the material may be hauled to a suitable location, at which time the operator applies additional pressure to the hydraulic cylinders and the piston rods, through the yokes and connecting arms, elevate the scoop to the position shown in Figure 6. As the actuating cams approach this position the sections 72 of the slots, sliding over the pins 60, and with the actuating cams turning in the direction indicated by the arrows 154, cause the pins, which are prevented from moving downwardly by the links 62 and 64, to ride against the upper surfaces of the slots, whereby the pins 60 slide rearwardly permitting the bottom to open. The opening movement of the bottom is, therefore, controlled by the pressure so that the scoop may dump instantly, or may feed a thin film of material therefrom to facilitate even distribution of the material.

Upon partial release of the pressure, the parts are returned to the positions shown in Figure 3 so thaf the scoop may be returned for reloading.

Form the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a hydraulically actuated scoop constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A scoop comprising a body having a rear wall with side walls extended forwardly from the ends thereof, a shaft rotatably carried by said rear wall and spaced from the lower end thereof, forwardly extended arms mounted on the ends of the shaft and spaced from said side walls, wheels journaled on the extended ends of the arms, a front wall pivotally mounted on said side walls and positioned to move upwardly to open the scoop, a bottom having a scraper blade on the forward edge pivotally mounted in said side walls, actuating cams having substantially .L-shaped slots therein fixedly mounted on said shaft and integrally connected to said forwardly extended arms, hydraulic cylinders mounted on the rear wall of the body and having piston rods extended therefrom, yokes connecting the piston rods to power arms extended from the shaft for actuating the shaft to raise and lower the wheels carried by the arms extended from the ends of the shaft, bars pivotally connected at one of the ends thereof to said actuating cams and positioned with the opposite ends thereof operatively connected to said front wall for actuating the front wall to open and closed positions, guide links pivotally mounted at one of the ends thereof to the side walls of the scoop and at the opposite ends to pins extended through said L-shaped slots of the cams, operating links pivotally connected at one of the ends thereof to said pins and at the opposite ends to arms connected to the bottom for opening and closing said bottom, resilient means carried by the side walls of the scoop and connected to said front wall for retaining the front wall closed, and a hitch extended from the said side walls of the body.

2. A scoop comprising a body having a rear wall with side walls having arcuate forward edges extended forwardly from the ends thereof, a transversely disposed shaft rotatably carried by said rear wall and spaced from the lower end thereof, forwardly extending arms carried by the ends of the shaft and spaced from said side walls, wheels journaled on the extended ends of the arms, a front wall having rearwardly extended arms positioned to close the forward end of the body, means pivotally connecting the arms of the front wall to the side walls of the body, a bottom having a scraper blade on the forward edge pivotally mounted at a point spaced from. said forward edge in said side walls, actuating cams having substantially L-shaped slots therein integral with said shaft and spaced from the side walls of the body, hydraulic cylinders mounted on the rear wall of the body and having piston rods extended therefrom, said shaft having arms extended from intermediate parts thereof, yokes connecting the piston rods to the arms extended from the intermediate parts of the shaft, bars connecting the actuating cams to he arms of said front wall whereby the front wall is elevated to open the scoop by the cams, and guide links pivotally mounted at one of the ends thereof to the side walls of the scoop and at the opposite ends to pins extended through said L-shaped slots of the cams, and operating links pivotally connected at one of the ends thereof to said pins and positioned with their opposite ends operatively connected to the bottom whereby the parts are actuated by said cams for swinging the bottom to open and closed positions.

3. A scoop comprising a body having a rear wall with side walls extended forwardly from the ends thereof, a shaft rotatably carried by said rear wall and spaced from the lower end thereof, forwardly extended arms integral with the ends of the shaft and positioned at the sides of said side walls, wheels journaled on the ends of said arms, a front wall pivotally mounted on said side walls, a bottom having a scraper blade on the forward edge pivotally mounted in the said side walls, actuating cams having substantially L-shaped slots therein integral with said shaft and extended forwardly therefrom, bars connecting the actuating cams to the front wall for actuating the front wall to open the scoop, arms extended from the pivotal connections of the bottom, pivotally connected links pivotally mounted on the side walls of the body and connected to the arms extended from the pivotal connections of the bottom, pins of the pivotal connections of said links extending through said L-shaped slots of the actuating cams whereby the bottom is opened and closed by the cams, hydraulic cylinders positioned on the body, means connecting said hydraulic cylinders to the shaft for actuating the cams and wheel carrying arms, and a hitch extended forwardly from said side walls.

4. In a hydraulically actuated scoop, the combination which comprises a body having vertically disposed rear and side walls, a door pivotally mounted on the side walls and positioned to close the forward end of the body, a bottom having a scraper blade on the forward edge pivotally mounted in the side walls and positioned to close the lower end of the body, actuating cams pivotally mounted on the body and positioned at the sides thereof, arms pivotally mounted on the body and integrally connected to said actuating cams, wheels journaled in the ends of said arms, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the body, bars pivotally connected to said actuating cams and to the door for opening the door by links pivotally mounted at one of the ends thereof to the side walls of the scoop and at their opposite ends to pins extended through said L-shaped slots of the cams, operating links pivotally connected at one of the ends thereof to said pins and at their opposite ends to arms extended from the bottom whereby the parts are actuated by the actuating cams for opening and closing said bottom of the body, means for actuating the actuating cams and arms carrying the Wheels with the hydraulic cylinder, and a hitch extended forwardly from the side walls of the body.

5. In a hydraulically actuated scoop, the combination which comprises a body having vertically disposed rear and side walls, a door pivotally mounted on the side walls and positioned to close the forward end of the body, a bottom having a scraper blade on the forward edge pivotally mounted in the side walls and positioned to close the lower end of the body, a shaft journaled on the rear wall of the body, said shaft having arms extended rearwardly from an intermediate part thereof and arms extended forwardly from the ends thereof, and actuating cams with L-shaped slots therein also mounted on said shaft and integral therewith, wheels journaled on extended ends of the arms extended forwardly from the ends of the shaft, hydraulic cylinders mounted on the body, means connecting the hydraulic cylinders to the arms extended rearwardly from the intermediate part of the shaft, bars pivotally connected to said door and actuating cams for opening the door by the actuating cams, links pivotally mounted at one of the ends thereof to the side walls of the scoop and at their opposite ends to pins extended through said L-shaped slots of the cams, operating links pivotally connected at one of the ends thereof to said pins and at their opposite ends to arms extended from the bottom whereby the parts are actuated by the actuating cams for opening and closing the said bottom of the body, and a hitch extended from the said side walls of the body.

6. In a hydraulically actuated scoop, the combination which comprises a body having vertically disposed rear and side walls, a door having arms extended on the outer surfaces of the side walls, means pivotally mounting the arms of the door on said side walls with the door positioned to close the end of the body, a bottom having a scraper blade on the forward edge pivotally mounted in the side walls and positioned to close the lower end of the body, actuating cams having L-shaped slots therein pivotally mounted on the body and positioned at the sides thereof, forwardly extended arms integral with said actuating cams mounted on the body and also positioned at the sides thereof, power arms extended rearwardly from the forwardly extended arms, wheels journaled on the extended ends of the forwardly extended arms, hydraulic cylinders mounted on the body, piston rods extended from the hydraulic cylinders, bars pivotally mounted on said actuating cams and connected to said door for opening the door by the cams, resilient means carried by the side walls of the scoop and connected to the arms of the door for urging the door toward the closed position, links pivotalv r 7 the: bottom wliereby the parts are actuatedbfy the actu: ating cams for openingandf c1osing said bottom of the body; bars connecting tliepiston rods of. the cylinders to said" power arms for actuating the actuating cams and wheelcarrying arms integraPtherewith by the liydr'aulic cylinders, and a hitchextended forwardl'y from the side walls of'the body.

R'eferenees Citd'iu the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gove- Nov; 10; 1936 Henryet al Nov; 11'; 1941 Owen Nov. 23', 1948 Mom-k Aug; 12; 1952 

